Author's Note: This story came to my mind as a 'what if.' What if Mario and Luigi never came to the Mushroom Kingdom? As I wanted to change things up, some of the usual characters, abilities, and lore are not present.
Disclaimer: I do not own any the characters from the Mario Universe.
The Dream
Captain Toad sits before a campfire while roasting corn on the cob, enjoying the simple quiet of the Mushroom Forest. As he prepares to take a bite, the sound of footsteps startle him. Thinking quickly, the toad turns on his head light and readies his frying pan all while shaking.
"Captain, its me!" A calm soothing voice assures.
The captain lowers his pan, breathing a sigh of relief. Out steps a blonde human wearing a pink vest and white pants. With practiced grace, she sits next to the small mushroom man.
"You shouldn't be out here, Peach. Its late!" The captain admonishes her as if he was her father. "Wait until I tell Vert about this!"
The warm and kind face of Vert, a green-spotted toad, appears in Peach's mind. She smiles lovingly and giggles.
"Please don't. The last thing I want is for him to worry."
Suddenly, the joy in her eyes leave. Peach bites her bottom lip and digs her toes into the grass. Captain Toad scoots closer towards her.
"Peach?"
"I've been having nightmares…."
Concern covers Toad's face. "I'll have Berry make his herbal tea! That always calms you down!"
Peach gently stops the captain from leaving.
"Please listen. The nightmares, they're always bizarre and terrifying. I'm all alone, walking on the sea. I could see nothing below, only darkness. Even the skyline was dark. Suddenly, I would fall under the water. I could still breathe but I couldn't move. And no matter what I did I couldn't get to the surface. And then a strange voice called out to me."
"Called?"
Peach nods her head while embracing her legs. "Yes. It told me the tyrant, King Koopa, was on the war path. And he is marching with his full army force and will descend on Mushroom Kingdom."
"That warlord!? How long have you been experiencing these nightmares?"
"The past three days."
Peach hangs her head while Toad sits stun.
"This time the voice told me we had a week to live. Then I woke up. I know it sounds silly, but it felt real! Someone was there in my dreams!"
Captain Toad stares at the fire. Of everyone in the Kingdom, the captain was the most adventurous. He made it farther beyond the natural borders of Mushroom Kingdom than anyone else! So, he knows a thing or two about strange things. But Toad has never heard of the phenomenon Peach just revealed. Someone talking to her in her dreams? She could have just had a simple nightmare. Yet Peach is the bravest of their people. The only one capable of fighting back against the small marauding bands, which harass them every so often. For her to be afraid….
"The voice was real. I don't know what its intentions were, Captain. But a koopa invasion is coming. Larger than their past marauding bands. And yet, I hope that voice was wrong and I'm simply crazy." Peach utters as she tosses a stick into the fire. She turns to Toad, her blue eyes lace with worry.
"Please don't tell anyone of this until I verify the threat. I'm going to the border. East right?"
Captain Toad digs into his backpack for his trusty map. It wouldn't hurt to check. Mushroom Kingdom is often in the dark about the outside world. And if the threat is false, no harm is done.
"The koopas would arrive from the east. But there's no way I'm leaving you to do it alone." Toad declares while smothering the campfire. Peach smiles and stands up, dusting her pants. She reaches a hand towards Captain Toad.
"I was hoping you would say that. Let's go."
Years ago, Peach had had encounters with the koopas, a violent and mischievous reptilian race. They would invade Mushroom Kingdom in small groups, carrying off helpless Toads. At times their prince, Bowser, would accompany them. Despite her fears, Peach would pursue and liberate her beloved Toads before the enemy could cross the border with their spoils. She could never beat the prince head on. And every time she freed the toads and escaped Bowser would hurl slurs and insults at her and her family.
One day while adventuring in the forest, Peach spotted a large form laying among wooden wreckage on the beach. It was a young red-headed koopa. Prince Bowser!? Her first inclination was to run back home. Before sprinting off, she spotted wounds all over his body. He needed help even if he was cruel. If the Toads were present, they would do the same.
Setting her backpack down, Peach ran up to him and tried to move the brute, but he was too heavy. So, she removed the debris from around him. He had been on a raft and got caught in the storm the other day. The girl wrapped his wounded arms up in bandages, pulled from her backpack. Lastly, she covered him with a blanket to warm him up.
The unconscious koopa began to shiver and whimper, so Peach sat his head in her lap. She smoothed his wild hair while humming a lullaby – one Gold would sing when she was a baby. Soon, the koopa calmed down.
Eventually, one of his angry blood red eyes opened. Peach nearly jumped but notice there was a hint of sadness in them. Instead of running she simply looked at him. The koopa snarled and grumbled under his breath. Bowser called her a 'stupid fungus' but Peach chewed him out for sailing during a storm. Shocked at her boldness and too tired to argue further he closed his eyes with a groan. He nuzzled further into Peach's lap and wrapped his arms around her. His actions caused her to blush, but she didn't push him away. Peach could tell he was grieving and wanted to be held. She returned to lightly petting his head earning a sigh from him.
As the sun set, a band of panicking paratroopas arrived. Happy to see the prince was alive, they didn't seem to notice Peach's presence. Bowser reluctantly pulled away from Peach, and looked at his servants with no emotion as they scolded him for running away before his coronation. The Koopa Kingdom needed him now more than ever. So, the prince followed his servants but not before glaring at Peach. He opened his mouth to say something but bite his tongue. Bowser then lumbered off, and that was the last time she saw Bowser. The koopa marauding bands had stopped.
Loud shouting brings Peach out of her thoughts of the past. The human and the toad are now near the border but still hidden among the trees.
"Captain, did you hear that?"
Toad shushes her and points at a hill. The toad and human get on hands and knees to crawl up the hill. Cautiously, they peek looking for the source of the commotion. From there they see miles and miles of tents. As far as the eye could see. On the outskirts of the camp - Koopas, in military gear, practiced with their spears. Others were marching in formation to the orders of a red-shelled koopa.
"Stars above! Its real!" Captain Toad whispers. "Peach, what do we do?"
Peach studies the camp, horror in her eyes. But she quickly shakes her head and turns to the captain.
"We must tell Mayor Goomba! He'll know what to do!" The two slip away into the forest to locate the Goomba Town.
"Welcome, my friends. Welcome!" The cheerful mustached Mayor Goomba greeted Peach and Captain Toad as they entered his humble home.
"Peach, you've grown so much! It's good to see you! But what is the purpose of visiting me?"
Peach looked at Toad briefly and turned back towards the goomba. "Mayor, an invasion force is near our borders! It's King Bowser."
Concern filled the goomba's aged face. He waddles over to his desk and sits down. "I've heard rumors, from traveling merchants, of King Bowser warring against other nations and warlords. But I never thought the conflict would come here. Our lands are humble. We are poor but we have what we need, and things are peaceful besides the occasional trouble. What could he gain?"
Peach sighed. "Maybe, revenge for me thwarting their raids in the past?"
The captain turned to Peach, upset. "Don't go blaming yourself for their selfish actions! And if Bowser is looking for revenge, he is going to have to work for it!"
Peach nods in agreement. "I'm not going to sit and let him get away with this."
The mayor jumped up from behind his desk. "Indeed! We can't take this laying down. I'll gather intel myself to determine the level of threat. But you have our aid, Princess!"
"Oh, I haven't taken the trial yet for the position." Peach says sheepishly.
Captain Toad folds his arms. "You take the lead. You are the Princess unofficially."
Mayor Goomba nods. "Certainly."
Peach smiles but her head is clouded with stress. The toads live a simple life. They were not knights or warriors. And the goombas were not much better. They will be annihilated. But as Peach contemplates the situation, a loud aggressive knock echoes throughout the room. Immediately, Mayor Goomba hides under his desk with a cry of distress. Captain Toad grabs his frying pan and inches towards a closed window.
"Who is it!?" He rasps.
A booming voice responds. "Open up! I have a message from Lord Bowser to the human girl."